Iraq continues to boil over - 35 killed near Shiite holy site

Today a homicide bomber killed at least 35 people near one of Shiite Islam's holiest shrines, detonating an explosive vest at a police checkpoint in Najaf, a short distance from the mausoleum of Imam Ali, one of the most revered figures of the Shiite faith,which contains the tomb of Prophet Muhammad's son-in-law, Ali. It is one of the world's most sacred shrines for Shiites

Apparently the bomber tried to enter the shrine, which was packed with worshippers but wasn't able to get past security and blew himself up at the checkpoint.

35 people have died so far, and over 100 were injured.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Mailiki, a Shiite, denounced the bombing as a "barbaric massacre conducted by Takfiris (Sunni extremists) and Saddamists who are seeking to inflame sectarian" passions.

The Najaf bombing occurred at about 10:30 a.m. in a market packed with pilgrims and shoppers in front of the Imam Ali mosque.

In other violence, 18 people were killed across the country, most of them in Baghdad, including seven policemen who died in an ambush. Five bodies were also found Thursday. Another bomb detonated in a crowded restaurant killed six people.

Islamic terrorism victimizes many more Muslims than it does non-Muslims. I can't understand why so many of them remain silent. Well, actually I can,but it's not pleasant to contemplate.